Natural Imput
Climate
- Rainfall; Determins which crops can be grown
- Sunlight
- Temperature
Optimum Temperature
Growing Season
Determine what to grow
- Soil Type
Relief
- Altitude
- Shape of land to grow crops
Hazards of Agriculture
Zimbabwe 7-mark Question
Why is there food shortage in Zimbabwe? (Model Answer, 7marks)
Zimbabwe is located in the Southern Africa. It was formerly one of the wealthier countries in the area, but it has now become one of the poorest after a decade of economic mismanagement and political instability, starting in the late 1990s. One of the major negative effects of this turmoil has been the creation of a significant food shortage. It is currently thought that half of Zimbabweans are need of food aid.
Formerly, Zimbabwe had a healthy agricultural sector. In fact, it was once known as Africa's breadbasket because of the wealth of grain it produced. The country engaged in a mix of cash cropping and staple farming. This meant that the country produced enough food for its own population, while also being able to export products for income. As part of his land and redistribution program President Mugabe seized the vast majority of commercial farms from those who had owned and managed them so efficiently. This had a disastrous effect on food productivity, as the poor Zimbabweans who took control of the farms did not have the expertise to effectively manage them. As a result crop production dropped massively. Many of the farms have since been abandoned, further decreasing yields. This is the primary cause of Zimbabwe's current food shortage.
Natural factors have also affected food production in Zimbabwe. The area has been suffering from lower than average rainfall for several years, which combined with mismanagement on farms has led to soil erosion and land degradation.
Other contributing factors are the political instability and violence that has wracked the country since disputed elections in 2008. Up to a quarter of the population has fled Zimbabwe. They have also fled hyper-inflation, caused by government mismanagement, that has caused the ZImbabwe dollar become a worthless currency. Many of these emigrants are people with the expertise necessary to rebuild the country of its decimated agricultural sector, therefore leaving little hope for Zimbabwe in its curre t state.
Unfortunately, Zimbabwe's political turmoil and isolation in the international community has made it very difficult for international food aid to be delivered to alleviate the crisis.
AGRICULTURE
Natural Imput
Climate
- Rainfall; Determins which crops can be grown
- Sunlight
- Temperature
- Optimum Temperature
- Growing Season
- Determine what to grow
- Soil TypeRelief
- Altitude
- Shape of land to grow crops
Hazards of Agriculture
Zimbabwe 7-mark Question
Why is there food shortage in Zimbabwe? (Model Answer, 7marks)
Zimbabwe is located in the Southern Africa. It was formerly one of the wealthier countries in the area, but it has now become one of the poorest after a decade of economic mismanagement and political instability, starting in the late 1990s. One of the major negative effects of this turmoil has been the creation of a significant food shortage. It is currently thought that half of Zimbabweans are need of food aid.
Formerly, Zimbabwe had a healthy agricultural sector. In fact, it was once known as Africa's breadbasket because of the wealth of grain it produced. The country engaged in a mix of cash cropping and staple farming. This meant that the country produced enough food for its own population, while also being able to export products for income. As part of his land and redistribution program President Mugabe seized the vast majority of commercial farms from those who had owned and managed them so efficiently. This had a disastrous effect on food productivity, as the poor Zimbabweans who took control of the farms did not have the expertise to effectively manage them. As a result crop production dropped massively. Many of the farms have since been abandoned, further decreasing yields. This is the primary cause of Zimbabwe's current food shortage.
Natural factors have also affected food production in Zimbabwe. The area has been suffering from lower than average rainfall for several years, which combined with mismanagement on farms has led to soil erosion and land degradation.
Other contributing factors are the political instability and violence that has wracked the country since disputed elections in 2008. Up to a quarter of the population has fled Zimbabwe. They have also fled hyper-inflation, caused by government mismanagement, that has caused the ZImbabwe dollar become a worthless currency. Many of these emigrants are people with the expertise necessary to rebuild the country of its decimated agricultural sector, therefore leaving little hope for Zimbabwe in its curre t state.
Unfortunately, Zimbabwe's political turmoil and isolation in the international community has made it very difficult for international food aid to be delivered to alleviate the crisis.